IC 5-16-9-5 Violations; Class C infraction and Class C misdemeanor Sec. 5. (a) Any person who parks a motor vehicle which does not have displayed a placard of a person with a physical disability or a disabled veteran, issued under IC 9-14-5 or under the laws of another state, or a registration plate of a person with a physical disability or a disabled veteran, issued under IC 9-18-18, IC 9-18-22, or under the laws of another state, in a parking space reserved under this chapter for a vehicle of a person with a physical disability commits a Class C infraction. (b) Any person who knowingly parks in a parking space reserved for a person with a physical disability while displaying a placard to which neither the person nor the person's passenger is entitled commits a Class C infraction. (c) Any person who displays for use in parking in a parking space reserved for a person with a physical disability a placard or a special license plate that was not issued under IC 9-14-5, IC 9-18-18, IC 9-18-22, or under the laws of another state commits a Class C misdemeanor. (d) A person who, in a parking space reserved for a person with a physical disability, parks a vehicle that displays a placard or special registration plate entitling a person to park in a parking space reserved for a person with a physical disability commits a Class C infraction if that person is not, at that time, in the process of

transporting a person with a physical disability or disabled veteran. (e) Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-4(c), a civil judgment of not less than fifty dollars ($50) must be imposed for an infraction committed in violation of this section.

I have an adopted son who was born with CP - every time I go to drop him off or pick him from a private Catholic Pre-school that he is enrolled in (and we are active members of the Church) - some parent is either parked in one of the two spots or is completely blocking both spots due to their vehicle being parked sideways.

...just wanted to see what others opinion is to this - maybe I'm being too sensitive???

No.. I don’t believe you are being insensitive especially if they have taken all the spaces. Personally, I would tap on their window and ask them to move since you have a handicap tag/sticker. If they refuse, nicely notify them you are notifying the police with their tag number. Perhaps the school administration can assist you with this. Sometimes people will “listen” to a school official vs another parent.

That being said, handicap stickers/tags have evolved into something it wasn’t intended for. For example, I know a fella (who is a lifeguard) that parks in handicap spaces all the time. He does have the placard you hang off your interior mirror. Why does he have it? Because he drives his handicapped Father once a month to a doctor. I will admit to parking in a handicap space once. I know.. shame, shame. However, my lower disc was bulging and I had great difficult walking (when this happens, I have to literally drag my left leg). I stopped at the store for some medications. Was it right? Probably not.

$50 seems a little to light... It should be more like $250. My mother is disabled and lives with us, but we don’t have a placard. We get her in and out of the car ourselves and push a wheelchair, so it’s not that big of a deal. I’d rather save those places for people who are disabled and drive and have no help. A real pet peeve of mine are the courtesy scooters at the grocery store. I’m very appreciative that they provide them. I could just push my mom in a wheelchair, but she loves riding about in a scooter if she can. The problem is all of the people who use them that have absolutely no reason for doing so. We’ve waited in the front of the store on many occasions waiting for a scooter, only to see punk thugs rolling around in them like they’re cruising the block. When they leave, I watch them just hop up and stroll out to their cars. Really angers me when people are so selfish and thoughtless.

I’ve gone to the school president - who e-mailed a certain number of parents - and put a single sentence in a 3 page newsletter...

I also went up to this person - told him to move - his reply was, “I’m waiting for my daughter to come out of the school - dropping my kids off - go park back there.” My tone in my voice showed that I wasn’t impressed...

These parents know full well that they aren’t suppose to be parking there - let along parking in that way that blocks both spots...I think it’s rude and demonstrated lack of respect for those that are truly disabled...and I fully understand the disc problem and left leg issue...but it wasn’t like you parked there and went skipping into the store singing some Disney song either...just wondering....thanks for your reply...

I forget which comedian did somthing like the following routine, but I thought it fits this thread:

One day while I was at the post office, I noticed a car with a disabled tag hanging from the window pull into a handicapped parking space. A perfectly healthy young lady got out of her car and I yelled at her, "Hey, what do you think you're doing? That's for handicapped people," and I went over a punched her out.

Boy, was I embarrassed when her mother got out of the other side with her walker ...

I think you meant to answer me. No... didn’t skip at all. Took me about eight minutes to walk from the spot to the store. It fortunately was a one time event and to be honest.. at that point, I would have taken the ticket. It was that bad. I have another suggestion that I hope helps: contact your local police department and speak to the Sgt of the traffic division. Explain to him or her the issue and that it has been addressed by the school administration and is still being ignored. Request an officer to drive by one afternoon that week.

If the school administration has contacted the parents and you have verbally asked them to move their rude butts... perhaps it is time for a ticket. Have you ever noticed how people will watch their car speed AFTER radar has been set up on a certain road?

NM allows you to use the spaces with a placard or special plate issued as handicap or disabled veteran
.
I parked beside a vehicle in a handicap space with a DV plate, I have a purple heart plate and wear a full leg prosthetic brace which causes me to walk like a lurching frankestein. Returning to my car, the wally world golf cart was blocking my car in and the attendant argued a purple heart plate was not legal, I asked her if she considered getting shot a disability. I told her to get bent and move her scooter before I backed over it. The driver with the disabled vet plate had come out, I asked him how and where he got wounded and he responded he gets the DV plate for PTSD. Just shook my head and left.

I am of several minds on this. I like the idea of having close up handicap parking, but the one-size-fits all federal mandates are stupid. Spots are mandated based on percentage of parking (rounding up) and have no relation to the activity in question.

For instance, a water skiing club is mandated the same percentage of spots as a geriatric physical rehab office.

It would also make sense to allow some normal “short term” parking up close for businesses such as dry cleaners. But quite often, if its a large parking lot, everything within 75’ of the door is given up to handicapped spots. It seems that I am always walking past a large number of empty handicap spots in otherwise packed parking lots.

This experience likely has many people thinking that they aren’t actually depriving those in need by momentarily taking a spot.

Per the theme of your question, people shouldn’t be parking in those spots unless they need them. If you are dealing with a limited number of people, perhaps you could print up some cards to slip under their wiper, stating why you need and use those spots. I imagine that would solve the problem. If not, have them ticketed.

17
posted on 01/07/2013 7:38:47 AM PST
by SampleMan
(Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)

Handicap parking spots are the only ones I observe, because they are law. The others have gone out of control. I routinely park in spots designated for “customers with children,” “high efficiency vehicle,” “compact car,” “expectant mothers,” “employee of the month,” and electric vehicle charging stations. I fully expect to one day see “Reserved for Anyone but White Males” parking spot designations.

Not being sensitive at all. I can’t stand it when I see some young person taking the spot and then jump out of the car to enter a store...so anoying and unfair to those that seriously need the space. I say the first offense 1000 dollars. The second 10000. The third 100,000 dollars. The fourth jail for 3 years. The fifth, jail for life. Yep that is how serious I find this problem.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.